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Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas). Illustration: R. Aidan Martin
The Ground Sharks are the largest of shark orders with 277 currently identified species and includes many of the most 'typical' sharks as well as some unusual ones. Within the Ground Sharks are several of the better known sharks, as well a few of the more potentially dangerous ones. Ground Sharks include Bull Sharks, Hammerheads, Blacktip, and Catsharks.
While some of the Shark orders show great diversity as well as highly specialized characteristics, Ground Sharks enjoy more commonality within their order. They tend to be generally adapted, able to flourish in a broad array of habitats and enjoy a wide range of prey. Recent DNA evidence is showing that species of some of the Ground Shark families did not evolve from common ancestors, suggesting that there will be upcoming revisions to how certain species are classified.
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Cat Sharks, Family Scyliorhinidae, and Smoothhound Sharks, Family Triakidae
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Whaler Sharks,
Family Carcharhinidae
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Carcharhinus albimarginatus). Photo: Rob Stewart
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Silvertip shark
Silvertip shark
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Carcharhinus albimarginatus). Photo: Mary O'Malley
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Silvertip shark
Silvertip shark
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Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). Grey Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Grey Reef Shark
Grey Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). Grey Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Grey Reef Shark
Grey Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). Grey Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Guy Stevens
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Grey Reef Shark
Grey Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). Grey Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Guy Stevens
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Grey Reef Shark
Grey Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). Grey Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Grey Reef Shark
Grey Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus brachyurus) or possibly a blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), patrols baitball of sardines, Sardinops sagax, Transkei, South Africa (Indian Ocean). Bronze whalers and blacktop sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Bronze whaler
Bronze whaler
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Carcharhinus brachyurus), and blacktip sharks, C . limbatus, swarm outside of a baitball of sardines, waiting for their chance to feed, Transkei, South Africa, (Indian Ocean). Bronze whalers and blacktip sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Bronze whaler
Bronze whaler
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Carcharhinus falciformis). at Silverado, Cocos. Silky sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Jamie Pollack
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Silky Shark
Silky Shark
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Carcharhinus falciformis). Silky sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Rob Stewart
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Silky Shark
Silky Shark
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Carcharhinus falciformis), Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean. Silky sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Silky Shark
Silky Shark
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Carcharhinus galapagensis), North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean. Galapagos sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Galapagos shark
Galapagos shark
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Carcharhinus leucas). Bull sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Bull Shark
Bull Shark
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Carcharhinus leucas). Bull sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Bull Shark
Bull Shark
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Carcharhinus leucas). Bull sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Danielle Heinrichs
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Bull Shark
Bull Shark
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Carcharhinus limbatus). Blacktip sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Matt Potenski
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Blacktip shark
Blacktip shark
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Carcharhinus longimanus), Hawaii, Pacific Ocean. Oceanic whitetip sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Oceanic whitetip shark
Oceanic whitetip shark
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Carcharhinus longimanus), Hawaii, Pacific Ocean. Oceanic whitetip sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Oceanic whitetip shark
Oceanic whitetip shark
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Carcharhinus melanopterus). Blacktip Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus melanopterus). Blacktip Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus melanopterus). Blacktip Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Guy Stevens
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Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus melanopterus). Blacktip Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Guy Stevens
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Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus melanopterus), Moorea, French Polynesia, Pacific Ocean. Blacktip Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus perezi), Bahamas. Caribbean Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Caribbean Reef Shark
Caribbean Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus perezi), Bahamas. Caribbean Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Caribbean Reef Shark
Caribbean Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus perezi), Bahamas. Caribbean Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Caribbean Reef Shark
Caribbean Reef Shark
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Carcharhinus perezi). Caribbean Reef Sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Matt Potenski
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Caribbean Reef Shark
Caribbean Reef Shark
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Galeocerdo cuvier) in the waters off Grand Bahama. Tiger sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: David Ulloa
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Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark
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Galeocerdo cuvier) with the Shark Angels. Tiger sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Jim Abernethy
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Tiger shark
Tiger shark
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Galeocerdo cuvier). Tiger sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Roger Horrocks
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Tiger shark
Tiger shark
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Galeocerdo cuvier) in the waters off Grand Bahama. Tiger sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Wolfgang Leander
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Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark
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Negaprion brevirostris), with umbilicus, placenta, and chorionic membrane still attached ; sharksuckers, (Naucrates ductor), cling to mother, Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean. Lemon sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Lemon shark
Lemon shark
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Negaprion brevirostris) and tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), with Julie Andersen. Lemon and tiger sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Jim Abernethy
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Lemon shark
Lemon shark
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Negaprion brevirostris). Lemon sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Matt Potenski
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Lemon shark
Lemon shark
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Prionace glauca), Channel Islands, California, Pacific Ocean. Blue sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Blue shark
Blue shark
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Prionace glauca), California Channel Islands, East Pacific Ocean. Blue sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Blue shark
Blue shark
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Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) or porosus), with research tag, Bimini, Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic sharpnose sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Atlantic sharpnose shark
Atlantic sharpnose shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Cocos. Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Jason Buchheim
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo: Mary O'Malley
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Rob Stewart
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Guy Stevens
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Guy Stevens
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Guy Stevens
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Cocos. Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Jamie Pollack
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Triaenodon obesus). Whitetip reef sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Jamie Pollack
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Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
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Hammerhead Sharks
Family Sphyrnidae
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Hammerhead Shark
Hammerhead Shark
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Sphyrna tiburo), Florida Keys, Florida Bay (Gulf of Mexico). Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Bonnethead shark
Bonnethead shark
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Hammerhead shark
Hammerhead shark
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Hammerhead sharks
Hammerhead sharks
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Sphyrna lewini), Galapagos Islands, East Pacific Ocean. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Scalloped hammerhead shark
Scalloped hammerhead shark
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Sphyrna lewini), Galapagos Islands, East Pacific Ocean. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com.
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Scalloped hammerhead shark
Scalloped hammerhead shark
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Sphyrna lewini), Cocos. Photo by: Jamie Pollack
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Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
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Sphyrna mokarran) in the waters off Grand Bahama. Photo by: wolfgang Leander
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Great Hammerhead Shark
Great Hammerhead Shark
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Sphyrna mokarran) in the waters off Grand Bahama. Photo by: wolfgang Leander
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Great Hammerhead Shark
Great Hammerhead Shark
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Characteristics of Ground Sharks
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# of Species
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277
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Body shape
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Despite diversity, there is much consistency among Ground Sharks. Rounded bodies. Many species are slender and also small, between 2-3 feet, while others are up to 10 feet. Hammerheads have the distinctive flattening of the head.
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Mouth position
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Underneath
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Anal fin
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Yes
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Dorsal Fin
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2
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Fin spines
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No
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# of Gill slits
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5
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Reproduction
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Variable: either oviparous, ovoviviparous, or viviparous (see glossary for definitions)
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Unique qualities
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Eyes have 'nictitating' membranes, or lower eyelids which are closeable to some degree.
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Habitat
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Ground Sharks are 'generalists', with broad range of habitat. Cover most marine habitats depending on species, from estuaries areas, coastal, open ocean, and even in some cases freshwater. Found in temperate to tropical zones of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.
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Food
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Broad range of prey, including fish, including other sharks, rays, squid and sea snakes.
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